Packaged article cooker



Oct. 21, 1952 G. D. ELMER 2,514,480

PACKAGED ARTICLE COOKER Filed March 27, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet l [N V EN TOR. GEOFFREY D. E L MER A TTORNE Y6 Oct. 21, 1952 G, ELMER PACKAGED ARTICLE COOKER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2'7, 1947 0/ 2/4 INVENTOR.

Gian-k5) D. ELMER ATTORNL'KS Get. 21, 1952 D ELMER 2,614,480

PACKAGED ARTICLE COOKER Filed March 27, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. GEOFF/95) 0. [EL/7E6 Afro/w 5 Oct. 21, 1952 G. D. E-LMER 2,614,430

I PACKAGED ARTICLE COOKER Filed March 27, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. GEOFFREY 0. 54 MER ATTORNEYS Oct. 21, 1952 G. D. ELMER 2,614,480

PACKAGED ARTICLE COOKER Filed March 27, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. GEOFFRE Y 0. EL MEA A TTORNE Y5 Oct. 21, 1952 G. D. ELMER 2,614,480

PACKAGED ARTICLE COOKER Filed March 27, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. GEOFFREY 0. fLME/Q LK/m4 M/W Oct. 21, 1952 D, ELMER 2,614,480

PACKAGED ARTICLE COOKER Filed March 27, 1947 7 SheetsSheet 7 I N V EN TOR.

GZOFFRE Y D. [L MEI? A r TOR/Vi r5 Patented Oct. 21, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

has resulted primarily because of the failure of the cooking unit to properly cook or heat the food in the short available'time.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a cooking or heating unit in which food and beverages, sustained at ambient or refrigerated temperatures, may be efficiently heated or cooked at a temperature of approximately 212 F. in a'time period not in excess of seconds, and discharged therefrom to the purchaser in an edible state.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a conduction heating or cooking device which imparts a constantly accelerated flow of heat to and a uniformly distributed temperaturerise in a packaged food or'beverage until it reaches an approximate temperature of 212 F. A further object of the invention is to provide automatic mechanism which may be adjusted or regulated to properly control the feeding to the cooking or heating unit, cooking and dispensing of packaged foods.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a conduction heating or cooking device which will eifectively raise, the temperature of the packaged articles to approximately 212 F. while keeping the surface temperature of the articles below the char point of the container.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a heater or cooker of the above character having a heating body composed of two parts or heatingsurfaces articulated to move toward or away from each other and permit sufficient clearance when open for the entrance and exit of the packaged article.

.A further object of this invention is to provide the heater or cooker with polished heating surfaces shaped to fit intimately and uniformly the surfaces of the packaged article to be cooked or heated.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for correctly positioning the packaged article in the heater initiating the actuating movement of the heating surfaces after positioning to bring the heating surfaces in contact with the packaged article under a compressive force to be maintained on the articles during the cooking or heating period to promote proper heat transfer from the heating medium to the article by conduction, and then to release the article after heating or cooking for delivery to the consumer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a heating or cooking unit arranged to utilize independent heating elements, normally electrically connected in series, as stand-by heaters with a controlling thermostat maintaining approximate cooking or heating temperature of the heating surfaces and means arranged to automatically connect the heating elements in parallel for the predetermined cooking or heating period.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a heating and cooking unit arranged so a minimum of heat leakage is assured.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a counter-type heater or cooker having a plurality of heating or cooking units which may be manually operated as the pre-packaged article is inserted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coin actuated electrical system incorporating a heater or cooker which automatically supplies heat for a predetermined time to a packaged article and releases the cooked packaged article to the consumer.

Further objects of this invention will appear from the following description when read in conjunction with the appended claims and attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a preferred embodiment of a cooker or heater made in accordance with this invention, with the valve cover partially broken away;

Figure 21s a sectional view taken substantially on'line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of Figure '1';

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the heating elements with the casing partly broken away;

Figure 7 is a partial end view of the heating units having a portion broken away to show the electrical connections to the heating coil and shozving the hinged connection between the two um s;

Figure Bis a sectional view of the thermostat used on the heater or cooker of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is an elevational view of a link which is a portion of the stop and switch mechanism;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line I8I8 of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on line IIII of Figure 2, showing another link which forms a part of the stop and switch mechanism; and

Figure 12 is a typical electrical wiring diagram incorporating the heating or cooking element of this invention in the electrical system of a coin actuated vending machine.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various figures of the drawings, numeral 28 generally designates the heating or cooking unit having a valve assembly 2|, stop and switch mechanism 22, and actuating means 23, all supported on frame 24. The heater or cooker 28 contains heating elements designated generally by numeral 26 (Figures 2 and 5) preferablyconsisting of two plates 28, in the present embodiment of semi-cylindrical form, each of which is provided with two extended arms 29 along one edge (Figures 2, 4 and 6) which function in use as the hinge points of plates 28. Arms 29 are connected to supporting frame 24 by cap screws 3I which have one end thereof threadedly engaged in inwardly extending bosses located at opposite ends of frame 24. Longer arms 32, centrally located on the same edge of plates 28, act as the center hinge arms and extend beyond the hinge point to form levers fulcrumed about hinge pin 33.

The free ends of arms 32 are provided with integrally formed lugs 34 to which follower rollers 36 are secured by pins 31, see Figure 5. Bars 38 are also formed on the outer edge of arms 32 adjacents lugs 34 and a coil spring 39 secured therebetween tends to pull the outer ends of arms 32 together about hinge pin 33 and to positively hold the heating elements 26 in their open or non-cooking position. The ends of heating plates 28 are formed with arcuate end walls 4I (Figure 6) and the lateral edges of plates 28 are formed with an edge 42, substantially hook shaped in cross section, having a groove 43 and lip 44.

Each plate 28 is provided with any suitable type of electric heating element preferably a continuous coil heating element 46. Heating element 46 is positioned on the outer surface of plate 28 between end walls M and grooves 43 and is electrically insulated therefrom by mica sheet 48 and arcuate shaped mica end strips 48. The coil windings are electrically insulated from each other by mica strips 5I.

Ceramic insulators 52 are positioned on the hinge edge of plates 28 between hinge arms 29 and the outer ends of the plate and are secured in a hole 53 (Figure 7) which passes through lip 44. One end 54 of coil 46 passes through one ceramic insulator 52 to a suitable electrical connection 51. The other end 56 of coil 46 passes along the opposite end wall M and is electrically insulated between arcuate mica strips 49 and 49' which are identical in shape and in turn covered by mica sheet 48. End 56 also extends through a ceramic insulator 52 to a suitable electrical connection 51. Flexible electrical wires 58, having small glass beads 59 secured thereon for insulative purposes, are also secured to electrical connections 51 and their opposite ends are provided with connections 6| for a purpose to be described later.

The convex outer surface of heating plates 28 between lips 44 is covered with a thermal insulation 62 of an asbestos-magnesium combination or any other suitable material, applied in sheet form to cover the entire convex outer surface of heating plate 28 and is substantially sealed by a semi-cylindrical closure plate 63 secured to plate 28 by suitable screws 64. The concave heating surface of plates 28 is highly polished to reflect the heat waves and has a longitudinal groove 38 adjacent its hinged edge and a longitudinal half groove 38' at its opposite edge. When plates 28 are in their closed position grooves 38 and 38 are spaced 120 from each other.

Frame 24 is also provided at both ends with ears 66 to which end caps 61 of any suitable material, preferably fabricated of cold moulded asbestos-silicate compound, are fastened by nut and bolt assemblies 68. End caps 61 have holes 68 formed therein to receive the outer end of the nut and bolt assembly 68 for a purpose to be described later. Circular openings II in end caps 6! allow the packaged article to be fed to and discharged from heater cooker 28 and package runway guides I2, positioned longitudinally through the device 120 apart, are secured to the walls of openings II by pins I3 and are received in groove 38 and half groove 38' of plates 28 when elements 26 are in cooking position. Substantially the entire outer peripheral edge of end caps 61 is grooved as at I4 to receive the ends of semi-cylindrical housing members I6, preferably made of the same material as the end caps. Members I6 are fastened for vertical rigidity and alignment by tie bars I! and nuts 18 acting against end caps 61. Housings 16 have mating openings 19 and 8| through which arms 29 and 32 respectively protrude.

Suitable electrical terminals 82 at each end of heater 28 extend through end caps 61 and are secured to arms 83 located near the ends of frame 24. The connections GI of flexible wires 58 are fastened on the inner ends of these terminals while the outer ends are connected in the electrical system employed.

End cap 61 on the upper end of the heater or cooker is recessed as at 84 and 86 to form channels for the electrical connections thereby allowing the proper positioning of the housing for gate valve 2I (Figures 1 and 4).

A further opening 81 in one housing member 16 receives a thermostat 88 which has a two piece housing 89 and 9|, for ease of assembly, with mating ears 92 and 93 secured together by bolts 94. Housing 88 is also provided with an integral supporting arm 98 which is fastened to frame 24 by bolt 95 to further support thermostat 88. The thermostat 88 is of preferably the well known bimetallic construction with a regulating screw 96 and suitable electrical insulation and connections 91 and 88. The contact members of thermostat 88 are thereby located in close proximity with one heating element 26 and regulates the flow of current to the heating elements to keep them at a predetermined temperature.

Stop and switch mechanism 22, located at the lower end of heater or cooker 28, consists of a three sided bracket I8I having its two opposite sides I82 bent at one end to form cars I83 which are fastened to end cap 61 by bolts I84 (Figure 3). The other side I of bracket I8I at the other end is extended and bent at a right angle to form a support for a stationary arm I86 of an electrical switch I88. Arm I85 which is insulatedfrom bracket IOI carries contact I01 on its free end. Suitable inturned ears IIO are formed onthe free edges of sides I02 for a purpose to be presently pointed out.

A link I08 (Figures 2 and 11) is rolled at both ends I09 to receive pins III, one of which is mounted between sides I92 of bracket IOI and the other between the sides of a movable switch arm II 4 to be presently described. Link I08 has a rectangular opening II2 through which one end of substantially L-shaped leaf spring H3 is passed to dispose spring II3 with one end in contact with the underside of link I08 and the other in contact with the inner face of side I05 of bracket IOI. Spring II3 tends to hold link I08 normal to side I05 and arm II4, carrying insulated contact H6 at one end, away from contact I01. The opposite end II! of arm H4 is curled to form a stop and is disposed within opening II of bottom end cap 61. A hinged link II8 (Figures 2, 9 and 10), hinged as at H9, is pivotally connected at one end to arm II4 by pin I2I and has a slot I22 in its opposite end in which the reduced square end I24 of rod I26 is slidably received. A cam surface I23, formed integrally on the lower portion of hinged link I I8 by a bent portion of the material from slot I2 t, is engaged by a cam I21 which is non-rotatably mounted on end I24 of rod I26 and retained thereon by nut I28. Cam surface I23 is held in engagement with cam I21 by tension spring I29, secured at one end to arm H4 and at the other end to bracket IOI. So lon as cam I2! is in the dotted line position of Figure 3 and heating plates 28 are in non-cooking position, spring I29 forces arm I I4 to the right around pin III as the pivot points to its retracted position in slot ID of end cap 61 as shown by the dotted line position of Figure 2. When cam I21 is rotated to the full line position shown in Figure 3, counterclockwise pivoting of arm II4 around pin III occurs, ears IIO of bracket IUI acting as stops to prevent upward movement of pin III through contact with link I08, and arm H4 is forced to its operative or full line position of Figure 2. Rod I26 extends longitudinally of heater-cooker 20 and its other square end I29 (Figures 1 and 2) is connected to gate valve 2I in a manner to be described later.

When the packaged article A (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5) has been disposed within heater-cooker .20, arm H4 and rod I26 are in their full line positions as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and further downward passage of article A is stopped by the curled end II! of arm II4, contact H6 having been forced from its full line position to the dotted line position (Figure 2) into engagement with contact I01. This engagement of contacts I01 and IIS, through the electrical circuits about to be described, initiates movement of the heating elements 26 to their closed or working position and converts the heating elements from stand-by series connected heaters to active parallel connected coo-king heaters.

For accomplishing this end, the present invention provides the following electrical system, which may be a part of an automatic coin operated vending machine or a manually operated counter cooker. The electrical system includes a solenoid I 3I supported in position by frame 24 but thermally insulated therefrom by blocks I32. Solenoid I3I, when energized as will be presently described, moves plunger I33 (Figures 2 and 4) and pivotally attached cam I34 upwardly in the direction of the arrow toward its pole face or magnetically neutral center. The sides I36 of cam I34 are generated angularly with respect to its longitudinal center, the maximum rise being at point B, equidistant from the longitudinal center line. Cam I34 is supported in its lowermost position by bracket I31 (Figures 4 and 5) formed as an integral part of frame 24, and is guided in its vertical movement and positioned by pin I38 working in slot I39 of cam i3 1. A tension spring I4I, connected between ear M2 of bracket I3! and pin I43 which joins cam I34 to plunger arm I33; acts to retract plunger I33 to its fully extended position when solenoid I3I is de-energized.

As follower rollers 36 at the terminal ends of arms 32 are held in intimate contact withcam I34 by spring 33 as previously described, when solenoid I 3I is energized sides I38 of the cam acting against rollers 36 force arms 32 apart against the action of spring 39 and bringthe heating elements 25 into their heating or cooking position. Package runway guides l2 are received in recesses 30 and 30 to allow the polished inner surface of heating plates 23 to intimately engage the outer surface of packaged article A as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, under the positive pressure imparted to elements 26, by cam I34 and rollers 36. It should be understood that the heating element 26 is designed to operate at a maximum surface temperature. of 400 F. which is below the char point of the container.

The upper end of rod I26 is pivotally mounted in ear I42 of lower gate valve housingI43 and the end I29 of the rod has a bell-crank I44 nonrotat-ably mounted thereon and securedby nut I46 (Figures 1 and 2). A valve Hi1 (Figurel) is carried by one end of bell-crank I44 and the other end is pivotally secured by link I45 to plunger I48 of solenoid I49. Solenoid I49 issupported by and thermally insulated from frame 24 by screws NH and blocks I52. As seen in Figure 1 solenoid I40 is shown in its energized position with plunger arm I48 in its retracted position and acting against spring I53 which is connected between bell-crank ear I54 and valve housing ear I56. Spring E53 returns valveI l'I to its closed position when solenoid Ice is de-energized.

Lower valve housing I43 fits flushagainst end cap 61 and is secured thereto by bolts I51 (Figure 1). An opening IE8 is provided in one wall of housing I43 to allow swinging movement of bell-crank I44 and an upper valve housing I59 is secured to housing I43 by bolts I6I. The upper face of housing I59 has flanges I62 which are secured to matin flanges I63 on chute I64 by bolts I6I. Chute I64 is positioned beneath the magazine outlet of the vending machine.

The purpose of gate valve 69 is to close off the natural upward flow of heat from the device to the magazine and refrigerated section of the vending machine. Also since a closure of this kind prevents free circulation of air through the device, the ambient air within the heater 2%! will be substantially static and therefore the temperature of the heating plates 28 can be maintained by the thermostat more uniformly and economically.

Referring to Figure 12, wherein the heating unit 20 is diagrammatically illustrated in the electrical circuit of a coin operated vending machine, contacts 82 at one end of the heating coils 46 of unit 20 are connected to power lines Ill and I12 of a suitable source of electric energy through a conventional line switch I13; leads I14 and I15; a multipole magnetic switch indicated by box I16 and having normally closed contacts I11; and leads I18 and I19. Contacts 82 at the opposite ends of elements 46 are interconnected by lead I8I so that elements 46 are normally connected in series. When so connected, heating plates 28 are disposed in open, non-cooking position and are capable of supplying standby heat (350 F.) only, gate valve I41 is in closed position over opening H of cap 61 to prevent passage of heat into supply chute I64 and the associated refrigerating mechanism, solenoid I3I is de-energized, arm H4 is in its retracted inoperative position in notch 18, and contacts I81 and I I6 are open. It will be seen, however, that thermostat 88 is connected in series in line I19 and is operative to automatically control the temperature of cooker 28 and prevent continuous heating of unit 28 with an incident waste of current.

The coin operated mechanism of the vending machine is connected to power leads I19 and I15; the circuit from lead I19 being completed from contact I82, over line I83 to contact I84 of holding coil I85, which operates magnetic switch I86 to contact I81 of coil I85 and the circuit from lead I15 being completed from contact I88, line I89, contact I9I, lead I93, to contact arm I95 of switch I96 which is closed by movable contact arm I91 as coin C' strikes arm I98 to complete the circuit through lead I99, contact 288, lead 28I to contact I81, thereby energizing holding coil I85 and closing magnetic switch I86. Switch I91 is in closed position only momentarily as the coin passes arm I98 and when open leads I93 and I99 are dropped from the circuit but switch I86 remains closed retaining the circuit through coil I 85 closed from contact I81 through lead 28I, contact 288, switch I86, contact I9I, lead I89 to contact I88.

Solenoid I49 is now energized thru contact 288, lead 282, contact 283, solenoid I49, lead 284 through one side of switch I16 to contact 286 on line I14. When the solenoid I49 is energized gate valve I41 is opened by the action of plunger arm I48 and cam I21 forces arm Il4 from its normally inoperative retracted position to its extended or stop position.

One side of the circuit from power lead I15 to package selector push button mechanism 281 is completed from contact 288 of magnetic switch I86 thru lead 288 to push buttons 289 which are single pole, double throw, and in series, preventing the completion of more than one circuit, regardless of the number of buttons depressed. When one button 289 is pushed the other side of the circuit is completed thru the associated lead 2 I I and its package release solenoid 2 I2 thru lead 2 I3 to contact 206 of power lead I14. When the selected solenoid 2 I2 is energized a packaged article A is released and passes from the magazine of the vending machine through the upper opening 1| into heater 28 where it is intercepted by arm II4 carrying contact II6 of switch I88.

The force exerted against the end of the arm when the packaged article is decelerated is partially absorbed by springs H3 and I29 and is utilized to move contact II6 of arm II4 against contact I81. Closing of contacts I81 and H6 completes a circuit to solenoid I3I from power lead I15 to power lead I14 through closed switch I88 which is connected to power line I15 thru contact I81, leads 2 I4 and I26 to contact 2H and to power line I14 through contact IIG, lead 2I9,

contact 22I of time delay switch 222, which is normally closed, thru switch 222, contact 223, lead 224, contacts 226 and 221 of solenoid I3I, lead 228 connected at 228a to lead 284 to contact 286. Solenoid I3 I, when thus energized raises plunger I33 forcing cam I34 to spread apart the free ends of arms 32 and close heating plates 28 about the packaged article.

At the same time, actuating coil 229 of switch I16 is energized from contact 223, lead 238, contact 23I of actuating coil 229, coil 229, contact 232 of coil 228, lead 233 of switch I16 to contact 286 of power lead I14. Energization of coil 229 operates to open the series circuit to the heating elements 46 by opening switch arms I11 and connects the heating elements 46 in parallel through right hand switch arm 236 of switch I16. The parallel circuits are carried by leads 238 and II on one side of coils 46 and lead I18 and left hand switch arm 236 of switch I16 and part of lead I19, lead 239 and center switch arm 236 of switch I16 on the other side thereby dropping thermostat 88 out of the circuit and supplying cooking heat (408 F.) from coils 46.

Upon the opening of switch arms I11, lead I83 is de-energized thereby de-energizing holding coils I85 and opening switch I86 to drop solenoid I49 out of the circuit. De-energization of solenoid I49 allows spring I53 to close valve I41 causing rod I28 and cam I21 to rotate and permit spring I29 to retract arm H4 and leave article A gripped between heating plates 28. Since article A is gripped between plates 28 and end II1 of switch arm I I4 is in engagement with the lower end of article A, switch I88 is maintained closed.

This assures energization of solenoid I3I from power lead I15 through leads 2I6 and 2I4, switch I88, lead 2I9, time delay switch 222, lead 224, solenoid I3I, leads 228, 284 and 233 to power lead I14 until the circuit is broken by opening of time delay switch 222. The parallel heating circuits through heating coils 46 is also maintained from power lead I15 through lead 2I6 right hand switch arm 236, leads 238 and I8I to lowermost contacts 82, coils 46 to uppermost contacts 82 and then by separate circuits composed of leads I19, 239, center switch arm 236, lead 233 to power lead I14 and leads I18, I18a, left hand switch arm 236, leads 233 to power lead I14. The circuit through holding coil 229 is also maintained from power lead I15 through leads 2I6, 2i4, switch I88, lead 2I8, time delay switch 222, lead 238, coil 229, leads 233 to power lead I14. As a consequence, article A is held by plates 28 and exposed to the cooking temperature produced by coils 46 until time delay switch 222 opens at which time the circuits through coils I3I and 228 are opened to release article A and switch I16 to restore the heating unit to its normal stand-by heating condition, spring I29 acting on arm II4 to move it to its dotted line position shown in Figure 2, spring I29 being of sufficient strength to lift article A upwardly sufficiently to allow end II1 to move to the right out of the path of article A. Since article A is no longer supported between plates 28, it will gravitate through lower aperture H of the heating unit into the discharge chute (not shown) where it is retrieved by the customer.

While heating unit 28 may be designed to produce any desired cooking temperature by proper design of coils 46 and the wiring associated therewith and may be set by proper adjustment of time delay switch 222 to maintain the cooking temperature for any desired length 9 of time, the present invention is particularly concerned with the production of a satisfactory hot dog vending machine. Accordingly, the time delay switch is set to maintain a cooking temperature for a sufficient length of time to properly and completely cook a packaged hot dog in a suitable short length of time and coils 46 are designed to assure a sufficient temperature for completing the cooking in the selected time interval. Thus the present invention contemplates a. setting of switch 222 to assure a cooking period of seconds and coils 4B are wound and connected to create and maintain the article at a. cooking temperature of approximately 212 F. during this cooking period. This is accomplished by constructing the coils 46 of suitable wire to assure a maximum wire temperature of the heating elements at approximately 400 F. and connecting the serially connected heating elements directly to the power leads through thermostat 88, thereby reducing the wattage input about 75% during idling periods. When the control circuits are energized as hereinbefore pointed out to connect the heating elements in parallel, the thermostat 88 is dropped out of the circuit and the wattage input is increased approximately 400% compared to its idling value. It will, therefore, be appreciated that the present invention provides a cooking unit which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, extremely efficient for cooking during cooking intervals and, due to the extremely low wattage input and the maintenance of the cooking plates at approximately cooking temperature during non-cooking periods, is very economical in use.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An electric heater for use in a vending machine for dispensing individually cooked articles comprising a supporting frame; a pair of opposed heating plates shaped to conform to the shape of the article to be dispensed and mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from each other whereby said article may be successively gripped for cooking and then released; thermal insulating means spaced from and normally surrounding said plates to provide an enclosed space to be heated, said insulating means having article entrance and exit openings; closure means'normally closing said entrance opening to prevent heat from escaping from said space through said opening; means for heating said plates; and control means for operating said closure means to admit an article to be cooked and to move said heating plates toward and away from each other to successively grip and cook said article then release the cooked article whereupon it passes through said exit opening to the consumer.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said thermal insulating means is provided with a plurality of runway guides adapted to assure proper positioning of said article between said heating lates and said heating plates are suit- =10 ably grooved to freely receive said guides when in article gripping position.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting for said heating plates comprises I a plurality of pivot arms respectively secured at one end to said heating plates and pivotally connected at said other end to said frame and said control means comprises a, pair of arms having one end respectively connected to one of said heating plates, a pivotal connection interconnecting said arms at points between their ends so as to dispose the free ends of said arms in opposed relation, and cam means mounted on said frame and adapted to engage said opposed free ends of said arms .to effect relative movement of said arms to effect approaching movement of said heating plates.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 together with selectively positioned article operated means adapted when in one position to be engaged by said article when said article reaches its desired position between said heating plates and initiate operation of said cam means.

5. The combination defined in claim 3 together with resilient means adapted to impart opposite relative movement to said arms to effect receding movement of said heating plates.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein said thermal heating means is provided with apertures through which said pivot arms and said pair of arms extend andwherein said cam means and said resilient means are disposed exteriorly of said thermal insulating means so as not to be exposed to the heat of said heating plates.

7. The combination defined in claim 5 together with means associated with said closure for positioning said article operated means in said one position.

8. A heater for a vending machine adapted to receive an object fed by gravity to said heater, comprising a plurality of normally spaced heater units mounted for relative movement and adapted to be selectively moved into and out of heating contact with said object; means operatively connected to said heater units for relatively moving said units toward each other to bring them into said heating contact, and control means intercepting said object when said object reaches a position between said heater units to arrest gravitational movement of said object and connected to actuate said last mentioned means to effect said relative movement of said heater units.

9. In a heater for a vending machine adapted to deliver a prepackaged object of given shape by gravity to said heater, a plurality of heater units having cooperating internal heating surfaces shaped to conform to the contour of the prepackaged object; said heating units being normally separated for insertion and removal of said object and adapted for movement into contact with the prepackaged object; guide means adapted to assure proper positioning of said object between said heating plates; said heatin plates having grooves adapted to receive said guide means when said heating plates are in closed position; means operatively connected to said heater units for relatively moving said heater units to bring said internal heating surfaces into embracing contact with the object with suilicient compressive force to insure intimate contact between the heating surfaces and said prepackaged object and maintaining said heater units in contact with the prepackaged object during the cooking period; timing means operative upon said last mentioned means to separation of'said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,188,734 Clement June 27, 1916 1,316,190 Sackerma-n Sept. 16, 1919 Number 12 Name Date Campbell Oct. 31, 1924 Flamm June 4, 1929 Howe May 30, 1933 Reinhardt June 20, 1933 Wolcott et a1 Feb. 27, 1934 Biggs Mar. 13, 1934 Anderson Aug. 21, 1934 Seoville Aug. 28, 1934 Allen Oct. 29, 1935 McCullough et a1. Mar. 29, 1938 Myers July 16, 1940 Simpkins Dec. 4, 1945 Thompson et a1 Jan. 8, 1946 Cody June 3, 1947 Isserstedt -1 July 6, 1948 

